Learning at a teaching hospital

When you're studying a practical profession, the best way to learn is by doing. Teaching hospitals around the world provide students with a hands-on experience in a learning environment.

Not only do those students have the opportunity to put their studies into practice, they also work alongside leading medical researchers and have access to high-end technology.

For instance, on Australia's Sunshine Coast an AUS$2 billion development is underway to create a new educational health precinct, the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH); Australia's largest hospital project.

SCUH is the central component of the new health precinct which will include a private hospital, health innovation park and research centre.

Employment opportunities

A project like this creates considerable employment opportunities. When the first stage opens in 2016, SCUH will need more than 3,500 staff, growing to around 6,000 when completed in 2021.

To operate effectively, a facility of that size needs more than just health care professionals.

The hospital will also employ administrative and support staff from a range of disciplines including business administration, financial services, information technology, human resources and communications.

The private hospital, scheduled for completion in December 2013, will need more than 600 staff.

The research centre will expand current health training, education and research facilities for the region.

It will drive the development of new knowledge, through research, to contribute to national and international improvements in patient care, while educating the next generations of staff.

The opportunity to learn in a working environment provides practical pathways to potential employment for students.

Study with benefits

“There is a general perception of Australia being multicultural and a very safe place for international students”

University of the Sunshine Coast Pro Vice-Chancellor (International and Quality) Professor Robert Elliot emphasises that while such partnerships do not guarantee graduate jobs there are definite benefits.

"As a tertiary teaching hospital, SCUH will operate significant health and medical research programmes," he said. "The hospital will boast highly trained specialised staff, equipment and services able to provide care for patients while serving as a training facility for staff and students."